First Meeting : 15 July 2003

The Local Government and Planning Ministers Council met for the first time on Tuesday 15 July 2003 in Darwin.

Local Government and Planning Ministers from across Australia and New Zealand as well as the President of the Australian Local Government Association convened in Darwin. Northern Territory Minister for Local Government, Mr John Ah Kit MLA and Northern Territory Minister for Lands and Planning Kon Vatskalis MLA, jointly chaired the meeting.

Members agreed that the Council would lead debate and decision making on key strategic policy matters for Local Government and planning in Australia and New Zealand that can be addressed at the national level.

The Council agreed a number of priorities for local government and planning which the Council will consider including:

• local government autonomy and funding;
• community strengthening;
• management of natural resources;
• working towards more economically, socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities;
• addressing the implications of population and demographic change for infrastructure supply and demand;
• land use and transport planning; and
• local government services and indigenous communities.

Specific issues dealt with by the Council are detailed below.

COAG review of Australia's natural disaster arrangements

The Council considered the broad direction of the recommendations of the draft COAG review report Natural Disasters in Australia, Reforming mitigation, relief and recovery arrangements. Members noted the recommendation for the development and implementation of a Disaster Mitigation Australia Package and that the objective of the Package would be for structural reform in disaster management across Australia.

Members noted that the Federal Government supported a shift in approach beyond recovery and relief, towards cost-effective, evidence based disaster mitigation across Australia.

The Council noted that other Australian jurisdictions were currently deciding their levels of support for the review recommendations and that in principle support was likely to be canvassed at a full meeting of COAG later in 2003.

Members noted that, if COAG agreed to proceed with the recommended reforms, an augmented Police Ministers Council would likely have carriage of the implementation review report's 66 recommendations.

The Council agreed it would play a key role in implementing many of the review recommendations, particularly in the areas of planning and development control reform.

Urban sustainability

The Council considered a proposal for a National Summit on the Future of Australian Cities and Towns to be held in March 2004 and a proposal for further discussion of strategic planning issues for Australias capital cities. The latter proposal stemmed from a request by the Capital City Lord Mayors Forum to have widely canvassed the various pressures on Australias capital cities.

Members noted that the prosperity and success of its major settlements would largely influence Australias future. The Council noted that change, including globalisation, social and demographic shifts and the information economy have significant economic, social and environmental consequences, and represent challenges for urban as well as regional communities.

The Council discussed the need for collaboration in areas such as economic development, population policy, the management of urban and regional growth, housing affordability, taxation policy and environmental sustainability all aimed at achieving urban sustainability.

The States and Territories and the Australian Local Government Association endorsed the proposal for a national summit to address these issues and that the Planning Officials Group would be responsible for the organisation of the summit.

The Commonwealth strongly supported the role of the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council as the appropriate body to deal with urban planning issues but did not accept the need for a national summit.

Council agreed that the consideration of urban planning issues is wider than those covered by the Capital City Lord Mayors Forum.

Urban Water Re-Use An Opportunity for Australian Governments

The Council noted that in 1994 COAG initiated the National Water Reform Framework for the management and use of water across Australia. Members noted that although significant advances had been made in legislative and policy reforms across Australia as well as in environmentally sustainable water management practices in many areas, that as yet water recycling measures had not been included under the Framework.

Members discussed the need for national guidelines for water recycling and water-sensitive urban design to facilitate an integrated whole of water cycle approach to water management.

The Council was advised that in April 2003 the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council had considered broadening the Framework to include water recycling and associated measures in urban areas.

Members sought the inclusion of water recycling in the National Framework and agreed to seek inclusion or urban water reuse in the National Framework. In particular the Council agreed to work in partnership with the Resource Management Council as well as the National Environmental Protection and Heritage Council in the area of water recycling and water sensitive urban design.

Commonwealth and Parliamentary Reviews

Mr David Hawker, MP, Chair and Ms Anna Burke, MP, Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration briefed the Council on progress with the Committees Inquiry into Local Government and Cost Shifting. Members noted that the terms of reference for the Inquiry required that the Committee also consider the findings of the Commonwealth Grants Commission report of June 2001.

Mr Hawker advised that the Inquiry was considering: the roles and responsibilities of Local Governments; current funding arrangements; the capacity of Local Government to meet its obligations; changes in powers, functions and responsibilities; and the scope for achieving a rationalisation of roles and responsibilities between levels of government.

The Council welcomed advice that the Inquiry report is scheduled for release later in 2003. Members agreed it is important that the next meeting of the Council consider the report prior to the finalisation of the Commonwealth response.

The Council requested that the cost shifting inquiry and officials consider a change to the Financial Assistance Grant legislation and principles to provide a basis for removing any financial penalties that operate as obstacles to local government amalgamations and boundary reforms.

Community Strengthening and Community Resilience

Members considered advice from Victoria that community strengthening strategies have been widely adopted internationally to improve overall social and economic wellbeing.

Members were advised that research indicates that there is a role for governments in community strengthening; however the issue of the most effective ways for government involvement in strengthening communities is still problematic. The Council noted that one of the key success features of community strengthening strategies is the focus on local areas or neighbourhoods and that in Australia, Local Government was best placed to lead community strengthening.

Members agreed, in principle that community strengthening is a key role of modern governments and that local government has the capacity to provide a significant local leadership role.

The Council agreed to that the Local Government Joint Officials Group should consider this issue and develop a common understanding of the concepts and benefits of community strengthening and effective approaches for achieving it. The Officials Group is to report back to the Council.

National Charter of Integrated Land Use and Transport Planning

Council members endorsed the National Charter of Integrated Land Use and Transport Planning and agreed to write to the Australian Transport Council to advise of support.

Council noted that Transport Ministers had already endorsed the Charter at a meeting of the Australian Transport Council on 23 May 2003.

The endorsement of the Charter by both Councils establishes a national commitment to an agreed set of good planning practices and to working together to achieve better land use and transport outcomes across Australia.

Council noted that all States, Territories, and the Commonwealth Government had collaborated to develop the Charter. The Charter is designed to support existing and future planning mechanisms by providing a national commitment to a framework for responsive planning, consistent decision making, and good design and management.

Council noted that responsibility for its implementation now rests with each State, Territory and the Commonwealth governments and that local governments will play a central role in land use and transport planning for local areas.

Development Assessment Forum

The Council noted that Recommendation 29 of the Federal Governments 1997 Time For Business (or Bell) Report, was the catalyst for forming the Development Assessment Forum. It brought together the relevant parties to reach agreement on ways to streamline the processes used for development approval and cut red tape without sacrificing the quality of the decision making.

The Forums membership includes the three spheres of government, the development industry, and related professional associations. The Council noted that Mr Peter Verwer, Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia has recently taken up the role as Chair of the Forum.

Members noted that currently the work of the Forum is reported separately to State and Territory Planning Ministers. The Forum Secretariat (provided by the Commonwealth) regularly briefs the Commonwealth Minister with responsibility for planning. Council discussed the lack of a formal reporting mechanism for the work or strategic direction of the Forum.

Members endorsed the continuation of the Forum and supported its work directions. It was agreed that in future the Forum would report on its work, activities and strategic direction to the Council and that, where appropriate, the Council would provide direction to the Forum.

Next meeting

The Council agreed to meet next in Western Australia, followed by Victoria. The timing of the next meeting was tentatively agreed for early December 2003.

Contact

Secretary
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601

(02) 6274 6967

Last Updated: 17 June, 2005